ARTICLES ABOUT PARALYMPIC GAMES BY DATE - PAGE 2

LONDON (Reuters) - The Paralympic movement will continue to thrive and grow despite Oscar Pistorius being charged with murdering his girlfriend, International Paralympic Committee (IPC) president Philip Craven told Reuters on Tuesday. "Blade Runner" Pistorius, born without a fibula in both legs yet still one of the most high-profile athletes in either able-bodied and Paralympic sport, is accused of murdering Reeva Steenkamp at his Pretoria home early last Thursday. Craven spoke of his "shock and disbelief" at the news of the arrest of the South African, who appeared in court for a bail hearing on Tuesday, and said he had only just got his "head around the whole situation".

Although she describes herself as "just your normal teenager," Alyssa Gialamas is anything but. At 17, the Waubonsie Valley High School junior made the national swimming team this year, competed in London and returned last week after shaking hands with President Barack Obama. Gialamas accomplished all this despite being afflicted with a rare congenital disorder. As an athlete who represented the U.S. at the 2012 Paralympic Games, Gialamas defines the adage of hard work and dedication enabling someone to reach her dreams.

By Sarah Young and Kate Holton LONDON, Sept 6 (Reuters) - With top athletes competing in front of sold-out stadiums and global television audiences in the millions, the Paralympic Games are starting to look a lot like their able-bodied equivalents - and big business is right behind. Although the money for TV rights, ticket sales and athletes' earnings is not on a par with the Olympics, the rapidly growing profile of the Paralympics has made them a commercial opportunity in their own right.

LONDON (Reuters) - Three members of Jordan's paralympic squad will not compete in the London Games after being charged with sex offences in Northern Ireland, organisers said on Thursday. The trio were released on bail on Wednesday after their embassy, which said Jordan's King Abdullah had taken a personal interest in the case, promised they would return to court to face trial. "The International Paralympic Committee and LOCOG have been informed by the Jordanian National Paralympic Committee that three athletes released on bail following incidents in Northern Ireland will not be entered into the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

The wheelchair parked on the Waubonsie Valley High School pool deck may have helped 17-year-old Alyssa Gialamas get to the water's edge, but once immersed, she's on her own. Donning her black swim cap emblazoned with the American flag and her name, she swims laps for hours as she tries to perfect her stroke for the biggest international meet of her life, the Paralympic Games in London. "I love swimming because I feel really free in the water," Gialamas said after climbing out of the pool.

LONDON, Aug 8 (Reuters) - A record 2.1 million tickets have been sold for the London Paralympics, outstripping the previous record set four years ago in Beijing by 300,000, London organisers said on Wednesday. The success of Britain's Olympic athletes, who have already notched up their best gold medal tally since 1908, has helped boost sales, with 600,000 Paralympic tickets sold in the past month. About 400,000 tickets are still available, including for the opening and closing ceremonies.

By Toby Davis LONDON, July 29 (Reuters) - When Polish table tennis player Natalia Partyka prepares to serve you realise just how impressive she is. The 23-year-old was born without a right forearm and has to carefully balance the ball in the folds of skin at the end of her elbow before dropping it on to her swishing bat. She is one of only two people scheduled to compete in both the Olympics and its Paralympic cousin this year,...

By Brian Murgatroyd and Warda Al-Jawahiry June 28 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia coach Sami Zreili does not put much stock in the idea that taking part at the Paralympic Games in London this summer is more important than winning. "This mentality of participation as being enough is long gone," he told Reuters by telephone from his home country of Tunisia. "For me as a coach, to take part in the Paralympics you have to be (aiming to be) in the top 10 of the world. "The point of this is not just to take part but to get medals.